NSW Young Australian of the Year nominee Nicole Seebacher recognised for cancer research
Pennant Hills’ Nicole Seebacher is on the frontline of cancer research in Australia in a field often dominated by senior professors. Now she has been nominated for the NSW Young Australian of the Year for her key role in developing treatment options that target drug-resistant cancers.
SHE’S on the frontline of cancer research in Australia in a field often dominated by senior professors.
This month, 29-year-old Pennant Hills’ Nicole Seebacher was nominated for the NSW Young Australian of the Year for her key role in developing treatment options that target drug-resistant cancers.
Results for human clinical trials have not yet emerged but there is uplifting news.
“It’s showing a lot of success in the animals,’’ she said.
“I was really excited. For me, that’s the reason we do research. It’s having an idea and trying it and 99 per cent of the time it fails and the one per cent, when it works, it’s the most rewarding feeling.
After seeing the death of two grandparents through lung cancer, and seeing her mother survive melanoma, Dr Seebacher sees a need for advancing treatments in all types of the disease.
“I’ve also seen childhood bone cancer and the success rate is almost non existent so I’d like to continue research with that,” she said.
Dr Seebacher concedes it is extremely difficult to get funding to advance her research.
“Australians have done incredible research and we’ve got Gardasil out which has pretty much cured cervical cancer so that’s one example of success we’ve had with funding,’’ she said.
The former Barker College, Hornsby, student said while professors traditionally secured government funding, more junior researchers relied on charities.
Dr Seebacher missed out on the NSW Young Australian of the Year award, which was bestowed upon social entrepreneur Jarrod Wheatley but she is optimistic her work will continue after charities approached her at the presentation inquiring about her work.
“I’ll definitely continue to do the research regardless but I’m really happy that there will be more publicity around cancer research, there will be more funding and support,’’ she said.
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Dr Seebacher, who also studies a post doctorate through Harvard University, started her degree at Sydney University almost 12 years ago.
“I think you have to be really patient and love what you do and I definitely feel like that with the research,’’ she said.
“I do have the constant drive to do the research.
“Don’t get me wrong, sometimes you do question it but having the support of your colleagues, it’s definitely worth it.”
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